Pressure-sensitive tape



J ly 6, 1943- J. A. M MANUS ET AL PRESSURE-SENSITIVE TAPE Filed June 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l n 6 INVENTUR John Mam/s Mari/n 1'9 [/75 BY ATTORNEY July 6, 1943.

J. A. MCMANUS ETAL PRESSURE-SENSITIVE TAPE Filed June 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR JOHN A. Mr: MANUS Patented July .6, 1943 ITED PBESSURE-SENSITIV E TAPE John A. McManus, Marblehead, and Martin G. Higgins, Lynn, Mass.

Application June 24, 1940, Serial No. 342,172

2 Claims.

The present invention is a continuation-in-part application of our application filed March '24, 1939, S. N. 263,894. The invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the merchandising of tobacco products, such as cigarettes and cigars, accompanied by so-called paper match-packs. It is usual to dispense matchpacks gratuitously for their advertising value. Attempts have been made heretofore in the art to attach the match-packs to the cigarette packages, but without success from a merchandising standpoint. The reason for the failure has been doubtless because something was necessary to be done to change the conventional method of packaging the cigarettes.

By means of our invention we have discovered a way to attach the match package to the cigarette package without the necessity for changing the method of packaging the cigarettes.

While our invention is designed to be applied mor particularly to cigarette packages, it may be applied equally as well to cigar packages or tobacco packages generally.

The further objects of our invention will be better understood by referring more specifically to the accompanying specification and drawings,

in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of a combined cigarette and match-package embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of a combination package wherein a pressure sensitive .strip of adhesive tape or sticker is attached to the inside surface of the back cover of the match fold, and to the cigarette package at either end of said strip;

Fig. 3 represents the invention as applied to any conventional type of tobacco-or cigar container;

Fig. 4 represents in front elevation the matchpack itself, having the adhesive strip attached to the back cover of the match folder and showing the paper protector, which is stripped of! of the adhesive tape or strip when ready for use;

Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 illustrates a roll of adhesive tape, both surfaces of which are of cellulose compound or other suitable pressure sensitive materials and protected when not in use by a covering of preferably crepe paper;

Fig. '7 illustrates in plan a long continuous strip (preferably in a roll), broken in section, and which strip is impressed with the printed advertising matter for the'flnished match-pack, and carrying the match-striking surface and adhesive tape and cover of our invention:

Fig. 8 illustrates a modification in plan of such a strip and similarly broken away, the strip being provided with a striking surface at a location which will bring the latter on the top of the match-pack instead of on the sides of the latter after the match-pack is fabricated;

Fig. 8A represents a side elevation of a matchpack fabricated from the strip shown in Fig. 8 and showing the striking surface on the top of the pack;

Fig. 9 represents a roll of adhesive'tape provided with a paper backing or cover and having a liner of suitable material, such as Cellophane," adhesively secured to one of the longer borders of the tape;

Fig. 9A represents a section on line A of Fig. 9;

Fig. 10 represents in isometric a machine for feeding onto the printed strip a pressure sensitive tape provided with the liner, shown in Figs. 9 and 9a.

Fig. 11 represents a front view of the matchpack illustrating in dotted lines the liner along the upper border of the tape;

Fig. 12 represents a side elevation of the matchpack in Fig. 11 provided with the adhesive tape, the liner, and the paper cover for the tape;

Fig. 13 represents in front elevation, partly in section, a modification of the match-pack pro vided with a metal or plastic holder for the match-packs and to the back of which our improved adhering means is applied;

Fig. 14 represents a side elevation of the cigarette package, the improved adhering means, and the metal or plastic holder shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 represents diagrammatically a pair of rolls through which the printed strip shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is fed in order to fabricate the match-packs; also illustrating a relieved surface for the rolls to prevent excessive pressure on the adhesive material, and

Fig. 16 represents a section of a strip or pressure sensitive adhesive material provided with the new liner of our invention adapted to be cut into strips.

Referring to the drawings, i represents the usual cigarette paper package wrapped in a transparent covering of cellulose compound, known to the trade as Cellophane, although such a wrapper may be made of any suitable material for the purpose. A match-pack 3, best illustrated in side elevation in Fig. 5, is comprised of the usual cardboard folder having the matches contained,

between its covers 4 and 5, 4 representing the back cover, and 5 the front cover thereof, which, when closed, tucks in behindv the overlapping lip 6 of the back cover 4. This match-pack has attached to the back cover 4 a sticker or piece of tape ofa cellulose compound nature generally known as a pressure sensitive tape. A roll of such tape is shown in Fig. 6. A special form of this tape is provided with two adhesive sides 9 and I0, and is protected on one side from adhesion while in-the roll by a strip of crepe paper together.

ll of substantially the same width as the tape. When the tape i attached to the match-pack, it is still provided with a protecting cover paper or mask l2, secured to the exposed adhesive side of the strip or sticker I, which. is a piece of the double adhesive .tape of roll 8. The crepe paper cover or mask l2 extends a little beyond the top of the sticker or tape I at l3 in order to provide a ready means for stripping the crepe paper cover from sticker or tape 'I- when it is desired to attach the match-pack to a cigarette package or tobacco pack. The crepe paper is preferably made of coarse enough ribbing to enable the crepe paper to be more readily stripped from the pressure sensitive material.

In Fig. 2 is illustrated amodiflcation of our Y invention wherein the match-pack 8 is attached to the cigarette package by means of a strip of adhesive tape 'I' stuck to the inside of the back cover fold 4 of the match-pack. This strip 1' is preferably adhesive on one side only as distinguished from the tape shown in Fig. 6 which is adhesive on both sides; in fact, the adhesive of Fig. 2 may be .what is known as the conven tional Scotch tape The strip of adhesive tape 1' extends beyond the lateral sides of the matchpack and its inner adhesive side is attached to the package I or wrapper 2 of cellulose compound (Cellophane) at the sides of the package, as at l4 and I5.

Referring to Fig. '7, l5 represents a long strip preferably in a roll of printed cardboard material such as is used in fabricating match-packs. At I8 is shown how the double adhesive Scotch piping tape l6 (Fig. 9) from a roll I! is applied to the strip l5. This tape is provided with a paper cover or mask, usually of creped paper IE to prevent the adhesive surfaces from sticking In the application of this tape to the strip IS, the crepe paper l6 and adhesive tape I8 are laid on the strip IS in a continuous length with the crepe paper it on top and the under adhesive surface of the double adhesive tape applied to the printed strip l5 under pressure in order to cause its satisfactory adhesion to the latter. A narrow liner of paper or cellulose compound material known as Cellophane, I8 is attached to the upper surface of the tape I6 by the adhesion of the tape itself, the Cellophane" being preferably non-adhesive. This Cellophane strip or liner I8 is so-located on the printed strip ii that when the latter is fabricated into a match-pack the liner will be at the top of the tape l6 and between the cover I 6' and the tape l6. This will be seen in Fig. 9A, Fig. 11, and Fig. 12. While this liner is shown at the bottom in Fig. 7 this is because when the forming strip l5 goes through the match-pack fabricating machine at the mill, the liner [8 will come at the top of the tape l6 as shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12. Likewise, the match-scratching or abrasive surface l9, while at the top in the forming strip I! will, when the match-pack is formed, be located at the bottom front of the pack as shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 14.

In Figs- 8 and 8a. however. we have illustrated a novel position for the striking or abrasive surface, viz.,-at the top surface of the match-pack when formed as shown at 20, Fig. 8A and Fig. 8. It will be noted that at 20', Fig. 8, the striking or abrasive surface is at such a position on the flat strip that when the strip is folded and fabricated to form the match-pack shown in Fig. 8a, the said abrasive surface will be at the top of the pack, as at 20', Fig. 8A. By locating the striking surface at the top it will avoid the danger of setting flre to the remaining matches when one match is struck and it is not necessary to reverse the match-pack in order to strike a match.

Referring to Fig. 10, the method of applying our invention to the forming strip I5 is illustrated wherein 2i is a base provided with suitable standards 22 and 23 which support a pair of rollers 24 and-25 respectively. The pressure on these rollers may be adjusted by means of the adjusting screws 28 and 21 respectively. A second pair of rolls 28 and 28 are supported in the uprights or standards 28' and 28' respectively. Upon the roll 28 is carried the forming strip ii. A frame 30 is suitably supported by the standards 22 and 23, and this frame in turn supports the roll I! of double adhesive Scotch tape provided with the liner l8 of Cellophane. actuates the rolls 24 and 25 to unroll the forming strip I5 from roll 28 through the pressure rolls 24 and 25 and onto reroll 28. At the same time the actuation by the handle 3| also causes the roll I! to uuroll and feed onto the forming strip i5, the Scotch piping tape I! provided with the Cellophane liner l8 and crepe paper cover It. This is done in a manner to bring the tape liner and crepe paper cover on the predetermined location on the forming strip, as illustrated in Fig. 7. To this end, the roll I1 is located at one side of frame 20 as shown in Fig. 10. f.

One method of providing the Scotch piping tape with the liner. isshown in Fig. 16 where a wide strip of tape of the double adhesive type [6 is shown, having a double normal width of liner or Cellophane" l8 which may be cut in the middle on the line 32, thus affording two pieces or strips of tape and liner. Of course, while we have, for the purpose of illustration, shown only a double width of tape and liner, it will be readily understood that any width or duplication of this idea may be carried out in practice.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate a modification of our invention wherein a metal stamping or a plasticformed holder is provided for the match-pack, and to the back of which is adhesively secured the tape l6, liner [8 and crepe paper cover l6, Fig. 14, as in the previous cases where these latter are attached to the match-pack itself.

Referring to Fig. 13 illustrating the above modification, 33 represents the metal or plastic match-pack holder having two internal flanges, one of which is illustrated in the broken-away section at 34. .These flanges form channels through which the back cover 35 (Fig. 14) of the match-pack may be inserted, the front cover 26 being folded and tucked behind the abrasive or match-striking surface l8. Thus is provided a permanent holder which may be attached to any suitable surface, such as the windshield of an automobile, a chair or any other suitable surface to which the permanent holder is adhesively applied. When the match-pack has been used up, itis only necessary to discard it by opening the front cover and pulling the match-pack out from the end carrying the abrasive or match-striking surface. A fresh match-pack may then be inserted throughthe internal flanges orchannels 35.v

Referring to Fig. 15, the rolls 31 and 38 are illustrated diagrammatically. One of the rolls, such as 31, may have a relieved or re-entrant surface as at 39. At the mill where the formingstrip [5 is run through these rolls 3! and 38 to fabricate the match packs if the liner 48 of A suitable handle 3|.

roll I! (Fig. 9) were not provided the pressure of the rolls on the tape l6 and cover paper [6' would be sufficient to cause the cover paper It to adhere so firmly to the tape l6 that when the pack is in use and it is attempted to strip cover Hi from tape [6 the cover and tape will both be stripped off the match-pack together and the object of the invention would be defeated; hence the relieving of the roll surface as at39, Fig. 15, will avoid this undue pressure on the tape I! and cover It so that when in use this objectionable happening will not occur, and the protecting cover I6 may be removed from the tape IS without stripping the latter from the back of the completed matchpack.

The rolls should have a sufficient depressed or re-entrant surface at the area of the adhesive tape nd liner superposed thereon so that there will be no pressure on this area of the formingstrip as the latter passes between the rolls.

The operation of our invention is as follows:

Orders are placed by the customer for quantities of match-packs carrying special advertising matter to be printed thereon.

A long roll of cardboard or paper strip such as is employed in making so-called paper match-packs is run through the printing machine in flat form and the desired advertising matter impressed on the strip I5. A suitable blank space is left unprinted along the length of the roll at the proper location thereon, upon which is to be mounted the adhesive, liner, and crepe-paper cover of Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 10, the printed strip I5 is now in roll form 28, Fig. 10, and mounted in the uprights or bearings 28'. This strip is fed through the rollers 24 and 25 and rerolled onto roll 29, mounted in bearings or uprights 29'. The roll I] of Fig. 9

is mounted on frame and arranged in such relation to strip I5 that the tape, liner and crepe-paper cover will be adhesively secured to strip l5 before the latter passes between the rolls 24 and 25. The pressure on these latter rolls may be adjusted by means of adjusting screws 26 and 21. The operation of the machine shown in Fig. 10 is by means of the handle 3| which, as it is turned, automatically rolls strip l5 and the strip from roll I! through rolls 24 and 25 and onto reroll 29. When roll 28 is completely unrolled, onto reroll 29, the latter will have adhesively attached thereto throughout its length the adhesive tape and the protecting cover of crepe paper with the Cellophane liner there-between in the proper location on the reroll and with the crepe-paper cover IS on the top as shown in Fig. 7. The strip on reroll 29 is now ready to be run through the mill rolls 31 and 38, Fig. 15, for the formation of the match-packs and the insertion of the matches themselves. As these latter operations are well-known in the art, it is not necessary to describe them here.

After the printed strip IS (with the tape liner and crepe-paper thereon) has been completely formed into match-packs, each match-pack will be as shown in Fig. 12, that is, the double adhesive Scotch tape I6 will be secured to the match-pack. On the outside of the upper adhesive surface of this tape will be crepeepaper cover l6 and lying along the top border of the adhesive tape between the latter and the paper cover will be the Cellophane liner l8, as best shown in dotted lines, Fig. 11. It will be seen from Figs. 11 and 12 that the paper cover 16' instead of lying in close adhesive contact with the Scotch tape throughout its whole area, lies at the top against the narrow strip of smooth stripping the adhesive tape from the matchpack, when the paper cover is removed. When the latter is removed, the outer adhesive surface of the tape is exposed and ready to be applied with a little pressure or rubbing with the fingers to the surface to which the match-pack is to be applied.

It will be seen from the above description that we have invented novel means which afford a commercial manufacturing method of producing match-packs supplied with a ready means of sticking them to any desired surface, such as to the Cellophane wrapper of a cigarette package, thus affording a homogeneous or integral union of two cellulose compound surfaces; to the paper wrapper thereof if the Cellophane wrapper has been removed; or to Windshields of automobiles, arm-chairs and many other applications. While we have referred to the use of a double-adhesive tape as the specific embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that any other suitable form of adhesive surface onthe forming strip may be employed.

While we have described the principle of eration of our invention together with the apparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art,.that changes and modifications may be made without departing from our invention, and we, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

. What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1..A pressure-sensitive tape adhesively coated upon both its upper and bottom surfaces having a removable cover and a narrow liner of flexible cellulose material such as paper extending along the entire length of at least one of the longer borders of the tape, the outer edge of the mar-- row liner and the edge of the tape being substantially .coincident, and the liner being secured to the tape by adhesion of the latter but the upper surface of said liner adjacent the protecting cover being non-adhesive.

2. A pressure-sensitive tape adhesively coated on at least one of .its surfaces having a narrow liner of flexible cellulose material such as paper attached to the tape by the adhesive surface of the latter and extending along the entire length of at least one of the longer borders of the tape,

the outer edge of the narrow liner and the edge of the tape being substantially coincident, and the upper surface of said liner being -non-aliopv 

